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A recent environmental impact study by renowned economist, Juan Aste Daffós, estimates that the damages your company owes to the indigenous people of Canaan de Cachiyacu for environmental and health abuses due to oil contamination total more than $13 million! We hereby demand that you give the people of Canaan de Cachiayacu the compensation they deserve and commit to cleaning up your mess!

Since 1994, when your company took control of oil lot 31 B, home to the indigenous community of Canaán de Cachiyacu in the Peruvian Amazon, you have caused a series of oil spills - 7 in the last 4 years alone! - from your careless use of old, rusted pipelines. These spills have polluted the water, land, and vegetation of the area, as well as increasing instances of cancer, deaths, and other illnesses untreatable by local doctors. Worst of all, after oil spills occur, community members claim that your company has directed local men to wade in crude oil up to their chests (with absolutely no safety equipment) and clean YOUR mess with rags and their bare hands.

The indigenous people of Canaan have fought back against your neglect and abuse by halting production at 9 of your oil wells since September 2nd. Their movement is now gaining attention globally.

We, the international community, are appalled at the environmental degradation and human rights abuses that you and your company have caused. It is time that you take responsibility for your actions, compensate the people of Canaan for the harm you have caused, and ensure that your operations do no more harm in the future.

Signed,

Matthew Watherston

This petition closed about 1 year ago

How this will help

In the Amazon of Peru, the courageous Shipibo people of Canaan de Cachiyacu are gaining international attention for their David and Goliath battle against shadowy oil company Maple Energy. Since...

In the Amazon of Peru, the courageous Shipibo people of Canaan de Cachiyacu are gaining international attention for their David and Goliath battle against shadowy oil company Maple Energy. Since September 2nd, community members, in defense of their rights, their land and their peoples' health and wellbeing, have taken control of 9 oil wells belonging to the company and completely halted oil production, until their demands for clean water, health care and justice are met after suffering from nearly 40 years of oil pollution. Together we can make a difference to help this community – please sign their petition now, and let oil companies know that we are watching them!

Canaan de Cachiyacu is an indigenous community located in the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon, near the city of Contamana. Before the presence of oil companies, the people of Canaan lived in a pristine environment in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, with clean drinking water from their fresh water streams, a plentitude of fish from their rivers, fertile soil for planting, and an array of different jungle animals to hunt.

However, since taking over the oil lot in 1994, Maple Energy has caused a series of oil spills (more than seven in the last 4 years alone!) from using old, rusted pipelines in the indigenous territory of Canaan, destroying the water, land, health and vegetation of the area.

The community now has to travel up to 3 hours to find non-contaminated sources of fish, and can no longer hunt or grow food on their own, now-contaminated land. The company hasn´t even given the community clean drinking water after all of these oil spills, and they are forced to drink out of the oil-contaminated river. As a result, there has been a huge increase in cancer and deaths from ¨unknown illnesses¨ in the village that local doctors cannot treat or diagnose. Ironically, workers from the oil company bring their own water when in Canaan. Why is that?

A recent environmental impact study by renowned economist, Juan Aste Daffós, estimates the damages owed to Canaan by Maple Energy for environmental and health atrocities total over $13 million. But Maple Energy denies that they are even causing environmental damage, let alone harm to the community!

Many oil companies like Maple operating in the Amazon have a long history of exploiting indigenous peoples and their lands, using antiquated technologies, rusted, old pipelines, and making promises of schools for their children, jobs, and money. Instead, they leave social and environmental destruction in their wake, believing that no one is paying attention. Not anymore!

We, the international community, are organizing a global campaign and petition to raise awareness about what companies like Maple Energy are up to. We will also be sending copies of this petition, as well as the Environmental Impact Study documenting the destruction, to the company's shareholders (Henderson Global Investors, Interline Enterprise SLU, International Finance Corporation, iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index Fund, and AFP Integra, Horizonte and Profuturo) and the international press, including the Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, LA Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, and Investors Chronicle to show them what corporate responsibility does NOT look like.
Let's let Maple Energy and oil companies like them know that someone IS paying attention! They have millions of dollars and many well-paid lawyers on their side, and the people of Canaan do not stand a chance without your support!

Please, together we can send a clear message that basic human rights come before corporate greed! Sign this petition today!